Hood structure for the rotating axle of a notebook computer

ABSTRACT

A hood structure for the rotating axles of a notebook computer, the hood structure being provided on a bottom edge of the LCD rear cover of the notebook computer at least with a flange connected with the rotating axles, flanges each is provided thereon with a plurality of holes of which partly are used for press connecting of studs and/or further engagement (or welding connecting) of engaging collars to consolidate the connections of the rotating axles, the flanges each is combined exteriorly with an external hood of the similar shape therewith. This hood structure not only can obscure the studs to give abetter appearance, but also increase the strength of the rotating axle itself and the LCD rear cover as well simultaneously. It also helps shorten assembling processes of LCD rear covers and effectively lower the production cost.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention is related to a hood structure for the rotating axles of a notebook computer, and especially to such a structure that is simple and low cost in production and has the effects of beautifying the rotating axles of the notebook computer. It is particularly suitable for use on a LCD display of a notebook computer or on any of a rotatable LCD display or screen.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Following progression and development of science and technology, computers have become the essential tools for various kinds of work; and by fast development of full functionality, high computing speed and portability of electronic products, notebook computers have been being highly accepted by senior commercial people, and gradually popularized to normal users. However, by the convenience of carrying a notebook computer, and the miniaturized parts of it need to be more vibration proof, the pressure and the vibration resistance of its housing are particularly important; this makes one of the major reason to keep higher cost for a notebook computer still.

[0005] Conventional notebook computers have their LCD rear covers made: 1. of plastic: this is a traditional practice. The rear covers are not solid enough and need to be electrically plated or baked with conductive varnish or shielded with metallic articles in order to pass EMI. 2. by die casting or Thixo molding with magnesium alloy: The material cost used for them is middling, however their complicated processes of production, such as removing rough edges, CNC, drilling, tapping, sand spraying, skin treatment, spraying paint and baking varnish etc., have created pretty negative results, such as the low yield rate of the housings, the high volume of waste material resulted after shaping, the difficulty of varnishing for two-color baking, as well as the difficulty to locate the issues of the deformation and the lack of material during die casting or Thixo molding which have relatively affected the qualities of removing rough edges, CNC and tapping. The articles made by die casting or Thixo molding are porous and require the complex fill-in processes to such small holes, before baking varnish, which would lead to the total cost high. 3. by sheet metal pressing with titanium alloy: The material cost is high, the processes need high level of technique, and the waste material resulted after shaping is not much; however, they shall be welded thereto with female screw studs for screws and this is subjected to damage of esthetics in appearance. The yield rate of the housings made is middling, while varnish for two-color baking is difficult and also cost high.

[0006] As shown in FIG. 1, a rear cover “A” is made by the aforesaid producing method, and it has provided at least with a flange “B” on a bottom edge thereof; a plurality of spacer columns “C” are provided on the flange “B”.

[0007] Conventional plastic rear cover products are embedded therein and molded with threaded copper female screw studs and the mode of making the rear cover products by die casting or Thixo molding with magnesium alloy has the spacer columns “C” directly drilled and tapped. By both ways above, the rear side of the flange “B” has a better appearance; abovementioned. A rear cover “A” made by the sheet metal pressing with titanium alloy need threaded female screw columns “D” welded to the position of columns “C” which processes may damage the rear side of the flange “B” to result a bad appearance of the rear cover “A”; and the undesired post treatment after processing is required as well. Thereby, it is the motive of the present invention to improve the existed deficient status of the LCD rear cover of the notebook computer in order to develop an ideal hood structure that should be simple for production, low cost and capable of beautifying the rotating axles of the notebook computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The main object of the present invention is to provide a hood structure for the notebook computer's rotating axles and such structure can shorten the producing procedure of LCD rear covers and effectively lower the production cost.

[0009] The secondary object of the present invention is to provide a hood structure for the notebook computer is rotating axles and such structure provides the effects of good appearance and increasing strength of the rotating axle and the LCD rear cover as well.

[0010] To approach the above objects, the present invention of hood structure for the rotating axles of a notebook computer is provided on a bottom flange of the notebook computer's LCD rear cover at least with a flange connected with the hinge, each flange is provided thereon with numbers of holes of which partly are used for stamping threaded female screw columns with engaging collars to consolidate the connections of the hinge. The flange connected with the hinge each is combined exteriorly with an external hood of the similar shape therewith and the hood structure can not only obscure the threaded studs to give a better appearance, but also can increase the combing strength of the hood and flange which can shorten the assembling procedure of the LCD rear covers and can effectively lower the production cost as well.

[0011] The present invention will be apparent after reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof in reference to the drawings attached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view showing the appearance of an embodiment of the conventional LCD rear cover of the notebook computer;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view showing the embodiment of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the elements in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional view showing the other side of the embodiment of the present invention and the LCD rear cover is stamped with threaded female screw studs;

[0016]FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional schematic view showing the embodiment of the present invention connecting with two hinges;

[0017]FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional schematic profile showing of the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] Referring to FIG. 3, the present invention is comprised mainly of a LCD rear cover #10, a plurality of studs #13 and engaging collars #14 in couples as well as at least a hood #15. The LCD rear cover #10 is made by sheet metal pressing with magnesium alloy, aluminum alloy or titanium alloy, and is provided on a bottom edge thereof at least with a flange #11 connected with at least a hinge #20 in FIG. 5, and a flange #11 each is provided thereon with a plurality of holes #12 used partly for forming the stud #13 by punch molding, and the engaging collar #14 is added for engagement of the outer with the inner parts in order to increase strength. Referring to FIG. 4, viewing on the opposite side of the LCD rear cover #10, we can apparently see the vestiges of the hole #12 on the flange and the engaging studs #13. Exposure of the studs #13 is not that good-looking, thereby, the remaining hole #12 on the flange can be used for extending through of a plurality of threaded stubs #16 in FIG. 3 which is directly provided on a hood #15 and engaged with the engaging collars #14 to increase strength of combining. The interiors of the hoods #15 are shaped in pursuance of the external contour of flanges #11, in this view, the hood #15 can either be provided with threaded stub column #16 or have various engaging means to be tightly mounted on the external surfaces of flanges #11 to complete the assembly of the present invention in a simple way, such as that shown in FIG. 2.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the engaging studs #13 firmly pressing connected (or connected by welding) in flange #11 on the bottom edge of the LCD rear cover #10 can be firmly screw connected with the hinge #20; the other side of hinge #20 can also be screw connected with the main frame #30 of a notebook computer. Viewing from the rear side of the notebook, the hoods #15 can obscure not only the engaging studs #13 and the holes #12, but also the welding spots resulted from welding in order to effectively beautify the area of the rotating axle of the notebook computer. The hoods #15 can also be varied in color by baking varnish etc., so that the notebook can be more vivid apparently after assembling the hood #15 thereon.

[0020] This hood structure for the rotating axle of a notebook computer is structurally simple and tidy, it not only can get rid of the defects resided in the conventional complicated assembling process of LCD rear covers of the notebook computer, but also can obscure the engaging studs to give good appearance and to increase strength of the rotating axle itself and the LCD rear cover as well. 

What is claimed is
 1. A hood structure for the rotating axles of a notebook computer, said hood structure being provided on a bottom edge of a LCD rear cover of said notebook computers at least with a flange connected with said rotating axles, said flanges each is provided thereon with a plurality of holes of which partly are used for press connecting of studs and/or further engagement (or welding connecting) of engaging collars to consolidate the connections of said rotating axles, said hood structure is characterized by that: said flanges each is combined exteriorly with an external hood of the similar shape therewith.
 2. A hood structure for the rotating axles of a notebook computer as in claim 1, wherein: One of said hoods is provided on the inner side thereof with a plurality of threaded stud columns for extending in and engaging of the remaining of said holes on the corresponding one of said flanges.
 3. A hood structure for the rotating axles of a notebook computer as in claim 2, wherein: Said threaded stud columns provided on said one of said hoods are engaged wit h said engaging collars to increase combining strength of the and flange. 